A US appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump can keep control of National Guard troops he deployed to Los Angeles, despite objections from city leaders and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Trump deployed the troops in response to widespread protests against his immigration crackdown. Local officials called it an unnecessary provocation.
A three-judge panel on Thursday said he was within his rights to order the troops into service to "protect federal personnel... [and] property". Trump called it a "big win".
The decision halts a ruling from a lower court judge who found Trump acted illegally when mobilising the troops.
In that earlier ruling, Judge Charles Breyer said Trump "did not" follow the law set by Congress on the deployment of a state's National Guard.
